A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 345 Before Departure
Tianshan, Hongyi Hall
Fu Tianjiao watched Zhao Guan leave, then stood up and walked down the steps, saying to Xue Wanshan, "Master, the court's move has put our Tianshan Sect in a very difficult position. Maintaining stability in the martial arts world is one thing, but inviting Fourth Uncle to the palace could very well cause quite a stir."

On the surface, the imperial court adopts a laissez-faire attitude towards the martial arts world, but this is only because the various martial arts factions have not harmed the interests of the imperial court. Otherwise, if uncontrollable variables occur in the martial arts world, the imperial court will inevitably take action, and Zhongxin Hall is a case in point.

It is true that Shangguan Yun possesses extraordinary talent, but without external assistance, he probably wouldn't have been able to develop Zhongxin Hall into the number one sect in just ten years. Under heaven, apart from the imperial court, who else has such great ability?

Now that the Tianshan Sect has defeated the Zhongxin Hall, it seems like a huge loss on the surface. However, for the imperial court, these losses are almost nothing. As long as there is no shortage of talent and sufficient resources, a large number of experts can be cultivated in an endless stream.

"The Tianshan Sect could no longer conceal its actions when it was fighting against the Zhongxin Hall. The imperial court may have taken notice at that time. Now that the Zhongxin Hall has been severely damaged, the imperial court may be thinking of supporting another sect to keep an eye on the martial arts world for them."

Looking at everyone's gaze, Xue Wanshan stood up and slowly said, "In the final analysis, the Tianshan Sect is still a lineage of martial arts. Although it is strong, it is still far inferior to the imperial court. Now that the imperial court is willing to send someone to visit us, especially in the middle of the night, it has already given us a lot of face. We had no choice but to comply with the first matter. As for Junior Brother Ni's visit to the palace to discuss the Dao, we still have to ask him for his opinion."

Upon hearing Xue Wanshan's words, Fu Tianjiao and the others' expressions softened, but at the same time, a sense of helplessness arose in their hearts. They had to fulfill their duties in their positions. When they were disciples, they were fearless and acted solely on their own whims, but now that they had taken on the positions of sect leader and elder, they had many more things to consider and could no longer just follow their personal preferences.

"Senior brother, what should we do if junior brother is unwilling?"

Shen Henian looked at Xue Wanshan, while Li Dengping frowned, glanced at Shen Henian, but said nothing.

“Junior Brother Ni owes our Tianshan Sect nothing. On the contrary, our Tianshan Sect has benefited greatly from him. Everything depends on Junior Brother Ni’s decision. If he really doesn’t go, we will deal with whatever comes our way. In any case, the imperial court does not want the martial arts world to be in turmoil again.”

Shen Henian and the others were taken aback upon hearing this, and remained silent as they looked at Xue Wanshan's calm eyes.

"Tianjiao, come with me."

Xue Wanshan flicked his whisk and called out to Fu Tianjiao. The others, seeing this, wisely withdrew.

Fu Tianjiao followed Xue Wanshan to the secret chamber in the back hall. Xue Wanshan reached into his robes and took out the book that Ni Qingfeng had given him, handing it to Fu Tianjiao. Upon seeing this, she hurriedly took it with both hands, looked at Xue Wanshan, and whispered, "Master, what is this?"

"These are some insights left by your fourth uncle regarding entering the Innate Realm and the Innate Realm. These things can be a help to you now, but you can only look at those who advance to the Innate Realm. Looking at more will not benefit you."

Xue Wanshan originally intended to divide the book into two parts: one part containing the content on advancing to the Innate Realm, and the other part containing the insights gained from reaching the Innate Realm. However, he later realized that the book was written by Ni Qingfeng himself, and it wouldn't be good to divide it hastily. In addition, he also wanted to test Tianjiao's composure through the book.

Upon hearing this, Fu Tianjiao was startled. She took a deep breath and slowly opened the book. With just one glance, she was deeply attracted by its contents. One sentence read, "Only when the essence, qi, and spirit are perfected can one advance to the innate realm without any flaws. If any one of them is lacking, although one may achieve the innate realm, the achievement will be limited, and the path to enlightenment will be exhausted."

After reading the last sentence about the Innate Realm, Fu Tianjiao was filled with mixed emotions and felt somewhat uneasy. The Innate Realm was still far from being reached for her. Seeing through it so quickly had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was that the path ahead was clear, and as long as she followed the steps steadily, the Innate Realm was not out of reach for her given her talent. The disadvantage was that having seen through the secrets of the Innate Realm, if she encountered setbacks along the way, her energy and spirit might be depleted, and she might not achieve the desired results.

Without looking at the remaining half of the book, Fu Tianjiao closed it, shut her eyes, and began to meditate. Xue Wanshan nodded in approval. Tianjiao had indeed lived up to his expectations. She now understood the path to innate mastery and would be within reach of it in less than twenty years. As for what came after that, that would depend on her own destiny.

A moment later, Fu Tianjiao slowly opened her eyes, a flash of lightning seemed to pass through them, and her aura began to change.

"Understanding one's own path, one can attain the innate."

Seeing Xue Wanshan's gratified expression, Fu Tianjiao returned the book to Xue Wanshan with both hands and said respectfully, "If it weren't for Fourth Uncle's book and Master's guidance, Tianjiao would probably still be confused and not know which path to take."

“Very good. You have chosen your own path. Your master will not ask any questions. As long as you carry forward the Tianshan Sect, your master will be able to face our ancestors without shame, even if he goes to the underworld.”

Xue Wanshan took the book, flipped through it a couple of times, and then, to Fu Tianjiao's astonishment, handed the book back to her.

"Master, what are you doing?"

"This was left to the Tianshan Sect by Junior Brother Ni. It shouldn't be left to one person. If anyone has the potential to reach the Innate Realm in the future, they can take a look at it. However, I have already memorized all the contents of this book. I originally intended to entrust it to you, the Tianshan Sect Leader, to keep it safe, hoping that our Tianshan Sect can survive for generations to come."

Seeing this, Fu Tianjiao didn't say anything. She immediately knelt down, respectfully accepted the book, and then stood up and said solemnly, "Master, rest assured, Tianjiao will not let you and Fourth Uncle down and will definitely carry forward the Tianshan Sect!"

Seeing this, Xue Wanshan nodded. "I am very relieved to entrust the affairs of the sect to you. I am going to Lingyun Peak. You can continue your cultivation here."

Fu Tianjiao said yes, and Xue Wanshan quickly left the secret room and rushed to Lingyun Peak. Just then, a five-colored cloud of light entered the sky, illuminating the dark night sky. Tianshan was instantly as bright as day, and a warm feeling rose from everyone's heart.

Just as Zhao Guan was about to rest in Qingxin Courtyard, he suddenly heard his attendants exclaim in surprise outside. He frowned and called out. A trusted confidant pushed open the door and pointed excitedly outside. Zhao Guan was then surprised to find that the courtyard was bathed in multicolored light. He hurriedly got up and stood in front of the door, staring blankly at the multicolored clouds in the sky.

"A miracle, a miracle!"

Zhao Guan muttered to himself, his heart filled with excitement. He had previously heard his master, Zhao Hu, mention that the number one martial arts master was Ni Qingfeng, and Zhao Hu's evaluation of this person consisted of only four words.

"His cultivation level is unparalleled."

Zhao Guan was shocked to hear his master's evaluation. He knew that his master was the most proud and aloof person. Anyone who could win his heart must have extraordinary abilities. He had already been impressed by the demeanor of Xue Wanshan and others, but compared to the strange phenomenon created by Ni Qingfeng, it was like a small witch seeing a great witch. This was no longer human power, but something of the gods and immortals. No wonder the Supreme Lord and his master asked him to do everything possible to invite this person to the palace to preach.

"Master, that place is Lingyun Peak. Could it be that Master Ni created it?"

One of his trusted confidants, observing the unusual phenomenon in the sky, walked over to Zhao Guan and pointed to the horizon, saying...

"Besides this one, who else could it be? This Master Ni is truly a divine figure. If the timing weren't so bad, I, the sect leader, would also like to take this opportunity to become acquainted with him." Zhao Guan sighed. Now was definitely not the time to go see Ni Qingfeng. If he insisted on going his own way, he might even lose his last bit of hope. He should just wait patiently for news from Xue Wanshan. As the saying goes, haste makes waste. He had plenty of time. On the other hand, the Tianshan Sect was in a rather passive position.

"Go back and rest. Tomorrow, everything will proceed as usual. Without my order, no one is to act without authorization. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

"Yes, I will obey your command."

Hearing Zhao Guan's chilling words, the dozen or so people around him all solemnly agreed. Don't be fooled by his usual cheerful demeanor and smiling face; if you disobey his orders, the consequences will be dire. Previously, some people had relied on the emperor's power to trip up Zhao Guan at every turn, but Zhao Guan later found a pretext to make them suffer the fate of being torn apart by five horses.

At the same time, Zhao Kai, who was walking towards Hongyi Hall, also noticed this strange phenomenon and rushed to Lingyun Peak. When he arrived, the mountainside was already crowded with people. Leading them were Xue Wanshan, Shen Henian, and Li Dengping, with Zhuo Bing and others behind them. When they saw Zhao Kai coming, Zhou Jing nodded to him and whispered, "Master has given the order that no one is allowed to go up the mountain. Senior brother, what about the envoy?"

Zhao Kai knew what Zhou Jing wanted to ask. He shook his head and said, "With such a big commotion, the envoy will definitely know. The most worrying thing is that no one has been sent over yet."

Seeing Zhou Jing's slightly worried expression, Zhao Kai comforted her, "Now that Master and the others are here, and Fourth Uncle has made such a big commotion, it is actually a deterrent to the imperial envoy. If we use it well, the current predicament of Tianshan Sect can be easily resolved."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing's eyes lit up. Just as she was about to say something more, she saw Xue Wanshan leading Shen Henian and Li Dengping towards the mountaintop, disappearing into the colorful clouds in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, atop the mountain, Ni Qingfeng's body was half-floating in the air, surrounded by colorful clouds and intertwined black and white energy, like two divine swords soaring into the sky, protecting him on either side. Xue Wanshan and the other two passed through the colorful clouds and saw this scene.

Shen Henian's eyes were glazed over, his body trembled, and he was too excited to speak. The fat Li Dengping was even worse off; his grip on the sword loosened, and the sword fell to the ground. His mind was almost taken away. Only Xue Wanshan remained calm at this moment, but although he tried his best to remain composed on the surface, his heart was in turmoil.

“Junior Brother Ni’s skill is astounding, and his cultivation is profound. Such a scene is no different from the Taoist ascension. Heaven is protecting him, and our Tianshan Sect should surely prosper!”

Ni Qingfeng's spirit wandered through the void, and the five-colored clouds and black and white energy around him gradually changed from thick to thin, and then from thin to thick. After this happened nine times, as Ni Qingfeng's figure floated down, the five-colored clouds and black and white energy slowly retracted into his body.

"Senior brothers and sisters, you've arrived."

Before Xue Wanshan and the other two approached, Ni Qingfeng had already sensed their presence. He opened his eyes, looked at the dazed Shen and Li and the three smiling men, got up and walked over lightly, bowing to them.

The sound of a clear spring rang in the ears of the three. Xue Wanshan solemnly returned the greeting. Shen Henian and Li Dengping came back to their senses and hurriedly greeted each other, but their expressions became somewhat restrained. Anyone would not feel relaxed when they saw a god-like figure standing in front of them, and their hearts would be filled with excitement.

"Junior brother, it seems you'll have to leave sooner than planned."

Xue Wanshan sensed that Ni Qingfeng's aura had reached its peak, and if it hadn't been restrained by a force, something terrible would have happened in an instant.

"I originally thought there was still a month left, but who knew that the enlightenment I just had would cause a change. It is also the will of Heaven. In three days, I will break through the void and leave. Senior brother, you can tell me what you need to say now."

Ni Qingfeng noticed the hesitation on Xue Wanshan's face and spoke to him in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanshan no longer hesitated and briefly recounted what had happened. After listening to Xue Wanshan's account, Ni Qingfeng shook his head and chuckled at the three of them, saying, "The Tianshan Sect only needs to guard its own little territory. As for maintaining the stability of the martial arts world, it shouldn't be the work of just one family."

After a pause, Ni Qingfeng said to Xue Wanshan, "Senior brother, please invite this Manager Zhao to Lingyun Peak tomorrow."

"I'm counting on you, junior brother."

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanshan felt relieved. After saying a few more words, he led the reluctant Shen and Li away from Lingyun Peak. When the three of them arrived at the mountainside, apart from a few disciples stationed there, everyone else had already dispersed. Shen Henian nodded upon seeing this.

"Keep a close watch on it and don't let anyone go up there."

"Yes."

When Xue Wanshan and his two companions returned to Hongyi Hall, they found the Seven Heroes of Tianshan gathered there. Upon seeing the three return, they all rose and bowed.

"Master, what about my martial uncle?"

"Zhao Kai, tomorrow you go and tell Master Zhao to go to Lingyun Peak. The rest can be handled by your fourth uncle."

Xue Wanshan nodded to Fu Tianjiao, then gave an order to Zhao Kai, who immediately responded and got down. Fu Tianjiao understood immediately.

After a brief discussion, everyone dispersed, leaving only Fu Tianjiao, Xue Wanshan, and another person in the hall. Although Fu Tianjiao was a junior, she was still the leader of a sect and it was not appropriate for her to speak first. Seeing this, Li Dengping immediately spoke up, saying, "Sect Leader, what Junior Brother Ni said makes sense. Tianshan is now the number one sect in the martial arts world, which is exactly the time when it attracts envy. If we take on the responsibility of maintaining the stability of the martial arts world, it may backfire. It would be better for the sects to elect figures and form an alliance that is different from the previous one. In this way, we can maintain the stability of the martial arts world and strengthen the connection between the sects, so as not to create estrangement and unnecessary enmity."

Shen Henian nodded in agreement. Although the Tianshan Sect had replaced the Zhongxin Hall, it would not fare well against the imperial court. In any case, the imperial court only wanted stability in the martial arts world. Now, by sharing the responsibility, it was a win-win situation.

Seeing that Xue Wanshan remained silent, Fu Tianjiao assumed he had other ideas and immediately asked him, but Xue Wanshan replied, "I have no objection. Junior Brother Ni's method is quite ingenious. The court focuses on the results, and they don't care how it is achieved. However, the first leader of this alliance must come from Tianshan. There is no room for discussion on this."

Fu Tianjiao understood her master's meaning. The strength of Tianshan was undeniable, and it would be a cause for concern for the imperial court and other factions if they did not become the first leader of the alliance. However, Fu Tianjiao also knew that the position of alliance leader might not necessarily fall to Tianshan in the future.

"In that case, I will send out invitations to all factions to come and discuss this matter."

(End of this chapter)